cooed Mom that afternoon. Her reflection hovered behind mine in the mirror while I got ready to meet Chase. “It’s not a date,” I told her. “We haven’t called it that, and he hasn’t given me any cattle.” “I see.” Mom pulled my hair back and twisted it on top of my head. “Well, if it’s not a date, I guess you won’t want that.” She nodded to a white box on the bathroom counter. “What is it?” I tried to sound casual, but my fingers fumbled to get it open. Dark purple gemstones twinkled at me. I sucked in my breath and lifted one of the earrings out of the box. “They’re gorgeous.” “Purple sapphires,” said Mom, shielding my eyes from a hairspray shower. “From one of my movies. The director let me keep them.” “Wow,” I said. “The only thing I ever got from a show was a Peter & the Pans poster.” Mom gave me a curious look. “From that kindergarten play I did where Peter Pan grows up to be a dessert chef?” I reminded her. She nodded. “That’s right.
